Methods and apparatus for applying an elastic material in a curvilinear pattern on a continuously moving substrate

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for applying elastic material in a curvilinear pattern on a continuously moving substrate. The method moves a substrate along a substrate path, supplies the elastic material to an oscillation unit first roll mounted for pivoting and rolling engagement with a transfer roll, the pivoting being about a pivot axis parallel to the substrate path, oscillates the oscillation unit first roll such that the first roll pivot axis oscillates in a plane generally traverse to the substrate path, applies the elastic material from the first roll to the transfer roll in the desired curvilinear path configuration, then applies the elastic material from the transfer roll to the substrate and bonds the elastic material to the substrate. Optionally the first roll may apply the elastic material directly to the substrate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a composite web structure and methodsand apparatus for applying an elastic material, particularly wide bandelastic materials, in a curvilinear pattern on a continuously movingsubstrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to methodsand apparatus for applying wide band elastic materials in curvilinearpatterns on continuously moving substrates with severe enough angulardisplacement to produce a composite web structure, such as a disposablediaper or other absorbent article, with regions having the attached wideband elastic materials, such as leg cuff/containment flap regions, whichare more “anatomically correct”. Even more particularly the presentinvention relates to novel methods and apparatus for applying wide bandelastic materials in curvilinear patterns on continuously movingsubstrates having minimal linear transverse direction motion, inrelation to the substrate path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional methods of making absorbent articles, such as disposablediapers, are well known in the art. These methods usually rely onattaching various elements to a continuously moving substrate, such asan absorbent article, as attachment materials. The elements may includeleg elastics, leg cuffs, containment flaps or an element which is acombination leg cuff/containment flap, such as that shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,827,387 issued Oct. 27, 1998, to Reynolds et al. The strip ofattachment material may be applied to the continuously moving substratein a discrete or continuous manner. One problem which has beenencountered is the attachment of wide band elastic materials with severeenough angular displacement to provide for proper curvilinear placement.Specifically such curvilinear placement is desired to be “anatomicallycorrect”, generally in the leg opening region of an absorbent article.Thus an absorbent article having this proper curvilinear placement isperceived as having a better fit on a body of a wearer of the absorbentarticle.

Curving the wide band elastic attachment material has been verydifficult to accomplish and practice at high speed. Manufacturers haveto settle for compromises, such as making disposable diapers havingstraight bands of elastic or reducing line speed.

The application of an elastic in a curvilinear pattern to a moving webgenerally requires the use of rollers for positioning the strip ofelastic. U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,581 to Lorig discloses a method andapparatus for positioning a strip utilizing a roll which may becylindrical, concave, or convex as desired to suit variousinstallations. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,301 to Buell adhesive isintermittently applied to the elastic material while the elastic and websubstrate are continuously run at high speed. Bourgeois, U.S. Pat. No.3,828,367, discloses that a pair of elastic ribbons are fed to curvedgrooves in a roll under which a continuous web passes. As the roll withthe ribbons in its grooves goes over the web, the ribbons aretransferred in the contoured pattern of the grooves to the roll. Oneproblem with a grooved roll is that it is unreliable and roping andC-folding occurs with wide band elastic ribbons. U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,746to Kons et al. discloses a method and apparatus involve a single rollmoving or oscillating in a single dimension to apply each elastic ribbonto a web along an undulated path. U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,767 to Rajala etal. uses a rotatable nip roll to press an elastic member against the webso the elastic member is spaced a predetermined maximum distance from adwell line, a rotatable buffer roll above and in rolling engagement withthe rotatable nip roll to cushion the rotatable nip roll againsttransient perturbations, and an oscillating roll, oscillating in a pathtransverse to a direction of web travel, above and spaced apart apredetermined length from the rotatable buffer roll. The oscillatingroll applies the elastic member in a curved line on the rotatable bufferroll, with the predetermined maximum distance of the elastic member fromthe dwell line being directly proportional to the predetermined lengthbetween the oscillating roll and the rotatable buffer roll.

The method and apparatus of the present invention allows for high speedforming of continuously moving substrates having, as attached elements,elastic materials, such as wide band elastic materials, placed withsevere angular displacement in a curvilinear pattern on a continuouslymoving substrate by allowing a roller to roll and pivot while placingthe elastic materials either on a transfer roll or directly on asubstrate. The present invention, unlike the prior art, while rollingalso oscillates in a plane generally transverse to the substrate path,thus providing a curvilinear pattern with no required linear movement ofthe roller across the substrate transverse direction.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for applying atleast one elastic material, in a curvilinear path, onto a continuouslymoving substrate.

The apparatus for applying at least one web of elastic material in acurvilinear path onto a continuously moving substrate has a transportingapparatus for continuously moving the substrate along a substrate path,a rotatable transfer roll, having a transfer roll axis adapted to be inrolling engagement with the substrate and to press the elastic materialagainst the substrate along the curvilinear path, an oscillation unithaving at least a first roll having a first roll axis, the first rollbeing mounted for rolling engagement with a surface of the transferroll, the first roll also mounted for pivoting about a pivot axisparallel to the substrate path with the pivot axis plane further fromthe point of rolling engagement than the first roll axis such that thefirst roll is operative to pivot in a plane generally traverse to thesubstrate path while rolling thus being effective to apply the elasticmaterial to said transfer roll along the curvilinear path, an elasticmaterial supply for providing the elastic material to the first roll ofsaid oscillation unit, an oscillating drive connected to saidoscillation unit for oscillating said oscillation unit in a planegenerally transverse to the substrate path and a bonding apparatus tosecure the elastic material to the substrate along the curvilinear pathwhen the elastic material is pressed onto the substrate by the transferroll. Optionally the transfer roll may be deleted and the first roll maydirectly contact the substrate to apply the elastic material in thecurvilinear path.

The method applies at least one web of elastic material in a curvilinearpath onto a continuously moving substrate by moving the substrate alongthe substrate path, supplying the elastic material to at least a firstroll having a first roll axis, the first roll being mounted for rollingengagement with a surface of said transfer roll, and for pivoting abouta pivot axis parallel to the substrate path with the pivot axis planefurther from the point of rolling engagement than the first roll axissuch that the first roll is operative to pivot in a plane generallytraverse to the substrate path while rolling, thus being effective toapply the elastic material to said transfer roll along the curvilinearpath, oscillating the oscillation unit in a path generally transverse tothe substrate path applying the elastic material from the first roll tothe transfer roll in a curvilinear path configuration, applying theelastic material, in the curvilinear path configuration, from thetransfer roll to the substrate and bonding the elastic material, in thecurvilinear path configuration, to the substrate. Optionally thetransfer roll may be deleted and the first roll may directly contact thesubstrate to apply the elastic material in the curvilinear pathconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevated angled view of one embodiment of an apparatusof the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the first roll and transfer roll with theelastic material path.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the first roll of the oscillation unitwith respect to measurements and the pivot axis position in relation tothe first roll.

FIG. 4 shows a view of three positions of pivoting of the first roll andthe range of oscillation.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the oscillation unit.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the oscillation unit.

The invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction or the arrangement of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out inother various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the terminologyand phraseology employed herein is for purpose of description andillustration and should not be regarded as limiting. Like referencenumerals are used to indicate like components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for applying a pair of elastic materials 4 and5 to a substrate 7 along a curvilinear path. While a pair of elasticmaterials is shown, the apparatus may also be used to apply only oneelastic material. For the purposes of discussion, only one of theelastic materials and its related apparatus will be discussed hereinsince the elastic materials and the apparatus for applying each of theelastic materials to the web are substantially identical.

Referring to FIG. 1, the elastic material 4 is relatively flat, includeswide surface 6, and has a width considerably greater than its thickness.The elastic material 4 comes from an elastic material supply 3 and maybe supplied in any known manner that permits a continuous high speedoperation. This includes pulling elastic materials, in a tangle freemanner, from a box, supplying elastic materials from a reel on which theelastic materials have been wound, receiving the elastic materialsdirectly from another processing unit which forms the elastic materialor any other supply manner known in the art. Since, for the purposes ofthis invention, the exact manner of elastic material supply is notimportant, the manner of supply has not been shown. The elastic material4 may be either in the form of a natural rubber, a synthetic elastomeror a combination of materials, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,827,387 issued Oct. 27, 1998, to Reynolds et al. Preferably, theelastic material is a combined leg cuff and containment flap such asthat detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,387 issued Oct. 27, 1998, toReynolds et al.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 for applying elastic materials (4and 5) to a substrate 7, (the substrate may also be called a web)includes a transporting apparatus 20, which may be any conventionallyknown type of transporting apparatus, and in FIG. 1 includes two rolls(22 and 24) for continuously moving the substrate along a substrate pathas shown by the direction of substrate transport arrow 25. Attachmentpieces (8 and 9) may be present on the substrate and the substrate mayhave other additional elements, which are not shown and will not befurther discussed, depending on the exact nature of the method forpreparing the article.

At least one elastic material is supplied in any known manner by anelastic material supply 3, including, as shown in FIG. 1, supplying theelastic material using a guide 32. The guide may be a roll or a bar orany other mechanism that can guide the elastic material to a first roll,also called a roller, of an oscillation unit.

The elastic material is any band or ribbon type elastic material,however it is preferably a wide band elastic material having a width ofabout one half to about four inches, preferably a width of about one toabout four inches and most preferably about two to about four inches.

Bonding apparatus 34 supplies adhesive at some point prior to theapplication of the elastic materials to the substrate. The exactpositioning of the adhesive application is not critical, as long as thebonding apparatus applies the adhesive prior to the application of theelastic materials to the substrate. However, preferably the applicationof the adhesive should be prior to the oscillation of the elasticmaterial to reduce the complexity of the bonding apparatus, sinceapplication of the adhesive during or after oscillation of the elasticmaterial would also require oscillation of the bonding apparatus.

Adhesives may be of any known conventional type, so long as the adhesivecauses minimal or no interference with the high speed application of theelastic materials to the substrate. One example is a pressure-sensitiveadhesive.

Optionally, the bonding apparatus may be an ultrasonic unit properlypositioned to be able to properly secure the elastic material to thesubstrate, such as, for example, at the position of a nip roll 60 inFIG. 1. For example, the ultrasonic unit and a transfer roll or a firstroll may provide a nip allowing ultrasonic energy to properly secure theelastic material to the substrate. An ultrasonic unit may be a suitablegenerator to power an ultrasonic horn and a suitable ultrasonic hornsuch as a rotary ultrasonic horn taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,403 toEhlert. Alternatively, the ultrasonic horn may be a stationaryultrasonic horn as are well known to those skilled in the art.

The elastic material continues on to the oscillation unit 40 where itengages a first roll 42, also called a roller or caster, which is a partof the oscillation unit and allows for rolling engagement of the elasticmaterial as the elastic material is fed to the roller. The first roll isalso has a pivot axis which allows pivoting while the first roll is inrolling engagement with either a transfer roll 50 or the substrate 7.Thus the roller is able to roll in addition to being pivoted, byoscillation in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of thesubstrate. This allows an elastic material, preferably a wide bandelastic material, to be curved with severe enough angular displacement,up to about sixty degrees, to be perceived as more “anatomicallycorrect” in a final article incorporating the substrate and elasticmaterial. For example, a wide band elastic material, about one inch inwidth, may be applied in a sinusoidal stretched manner so that thegreatest overall distance from a top edge of the wide band elasticmaterial at the top of a sine wave to a bottom (opposing) edge of thesame wide band elastic material at the bottom of the sine wave is aboutthree and one-half inches or an angle of about sixty-four degrees (basedon a right triangle).

FIG. 2 shows the direction of travel 46 of the elastic material 4 inrelation to the roller 42 and onto a transfer roll 50. The exactdirection of travel is not critical as long as the roller is able toapply the elastic material either to the transfer roll in a curvilinearmanner for application to the substrate or directly to the substrate ina curvilinear manner.

The roller must be constructed to that the roller can be pivoted in adirection perpendicular to a rolling direction so as to apply theelastic material in a curvilinear pattern. This means that the rollershould be constructed so that it is oval, ellipsoid or generally anyother such shape, such as trapezoidal, with major parallel faces of thetrapezoid forming the rolling or first axis, so that it has a greaterdiameter in the center of the rolling surface of roller than at the endsof the rolling surface of the roller. These are generally known asrollers with a crown or crowned rollers. It is also required that theroller be able to be oscillated in a plane traverse to the substratepath while the roller is rolling on the transfer roll or the substrate.This is achieved by a roller having a pivot axis and a crowned surface.The pivot axis allows the roller to be oscillated, that is to saypivoted, through part or all of the roller's crown surface while theroller is rolling. The pivot axis may be above, below or tangent to ahighest point on the crowned roller surface which furthest away from thepoint of elastic application to the transfer roll or substrate and thepivot axis must also be parallel to the substrate path when contactingthe transfer roll or substrate to allow roller rolling motion whilestill being able to pivot in a direction perpendicular to the substratepath. Preferably the pivot axis is perpendicular to a centerline of therolling axis. By being able to pivot in a direction transverse to thesubstrate path while rolling, the roller is thus able to “travel”through part or all of the crowned roller surface in a directiontransverse to the substrate path and thus apply elastic material in acurvilinear pattern to the transfer roll or substrate. Preferably thecrown has a radius of curvature which matches a pivot radius. The pivotradius is determined by extending the pivot axis through the centerlineof a rolling axis of the roller and measuring the radius from the thusextended pivot axis/centerline intersection to the point of applicationof the elastic material to the transfer roll or substrate. Alsopreferably the crown has a radius which is equal to a maximum diameterof the crowned roller. Preferably the roller is similar to a football ora football having its pointed ends removed to provide parallel andplaner opposing sides while still providing the crowned roller surfacesuitable for rolling.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of such a roller having a center diameter 80of 4.0000 inches and an end diameter 82 of 1.3166 inches at both ends.FIG. 2 also shows the position of three pivot 84 a, 84 b and 84 c inrelation to the centerline 87 and the rolling or first axis 86 a, 86 band 86 c. As is seen in FIG. 2, the pivot axis lies on the centerlineand has an offset 88 1.0000 inch above the rolling or first axis of thefirst roll or roller. The overall length 89 of the roller is 5.0000inches and the curved rolling surfaces have a radius 85 of 3.0000 incheswith the two centerpoints for the diameter on the vertical centerline,1.0000 inch above and below the rolling or first axis. Thus, thisembodiment has a common centerpoint for both the pivot axis and theroller surface radius. The overall length of the roller will vary uponthe specific application or use of the roller and will be dependent uponat least the width of the elastic material.

FIG. 4 shows a range of oscillation 90 of the roller of FIG. 2 as it isoscillated in the plane transverse to the substrate path. In thisembodiment, the range of oscillation is about 40 degrees to the left orthe right with the angle of the oscillation being formed with respect tothe vertical centerline 87 of the roller and a line 92 perpendicular tothe pivot axis and parallel to the rolling or first axis. This range ofoscillation 90 allows the elastic material 4 to be placed on thetransfer roll 50 in a curvilinear manner. Thus this roller with theoffset pivot axis provides sufficient transverse, or cross-direction,motion, relative to the substrate path while also causing minimaldisturbance and twisting to the incoming elastic material path prior toapplication of the elastic material to the transfer roll or substrate.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the oscillation unit with the roller inrolling engagement with the transfer roll. As can be seen theoscillating drive arm, which forms the pivot axis, has an offset 881.0000 inch above the rolling or first axis of the roller.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the oscillation unit with the roller. The rollermay be held at one end, as is shown in FIG. 6, or both ends of therolling or first axis, but the roller, no matter how it is held forrolling motion, must be able to pivot as described previously. Theoscillating drive oscillates as shown by the oscillating drive arrow 73.

The roller may be constructed in any manner so the elastic materialremains on the roller and does not bunch up or snag upon application.The specific roller and transport roll surface treatments will varydepending on the specific application or use, the location of the rollerpivot axis and substrate characteristics. The roller and transport rollmay have any conventionally known treated surface which facilitates theapplication of the elastic material to the substrate.

The apparatus and method rely on the ability of the elastic material totrack the highest surface speed of the roller so that transverse, orcross-machine, displacement is achieved while oscillating the roller.

An oscillating drive 70 oscillates the oscillation unit in a planegenerally transverse to the substrate path through an oscillating drivearm 72, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The oscillating drive may be of atype well-known in the art and consequently will not be furtherdescribed herein.

Oscillating drive arm 72 is fixed to oscillating drive 70. Roller 42must have a roller arm 43 mounted for pivotation to oscillating drivearm 72 so that the roller arm is capable of oscillating in a planetransverse to the direction of movement of the substrate while rolling.FIG. 6 shows a top view of the oscillation unit. Arrow 73 is thedirection of oscillation or pivotation. The oscillating drive arm androller arm may be a single connecting arm or multiple connecting armscooperating so as to oscillate the roller in the manner described hereinwhile the first roll is in rolling engagement with either the transferroll or the substrate. The oscillating drive arm may also be directlyconnected to the roller. The roller may be held at either or both endsof an axis which allows rolling, but the roller, no matter how it isheld for rolling motion, must be able to pivot as described previously.

There may be other rolls in the oscillation unit, however this is not arequirement. Optionally the guide may also be part of the oscillationunit. It is a requirement that the roll that is actually in engagementwith either the transfer roll or the substrate be in both rolling andpivoting engagement, as previously described with the transfer roll orsubstrate.

The roller, with the engaged elastic material, is in rolling andpivoting engagement with either the transfer roll 50 in one embodimentor directly with the substrate 7 in a second embodiment. The elasticmaterial is then transferred from the roller to either the transfer rollin a curvilinear configuration and then applied to the substrate(FIG. 1) or directly to the substrate in a curvilinear configuration.

The transfer roll, with the engaged curvilinear elastic material, is inrolling engagement with the substrate, and rotates to apply the elasticmaterial to the substrate in the desired curvilinear pattern. A nip roll60 working in rolling cooperation with the transfer roll or the roller,assists the transfer roll, or the roller, in placing the elasticmaterial onto the substrate with a desired amount of pressure toproperly secure the elastic material to the substrate in the desiredcurvilinear pattern. Optionally, transfer roll/nip roll configurationmay include or be replaced by the bonding apparatus in the form of anultrasonic unit able to properly secure the elastic material at thelocation where the elastic material is applied to the substrate. Alsowhile it is possible to use multiple transfer rolls in the presentinvention, it is less complex and therefore preferable to utilize only asingle transfer roll, even when utilizing multiple rollers as is shownin FIG. 1.

The transfer roll may also be a variable velocity roll, with or withouta hot knife, or other type of cutting roll such that the elasticmaterial is curved, held, cut and applied in discrete units in thedesired curvilinear manner. Other conventional measures, such as vacuumand/or roll surface coatings, may be used in conjunction with thetransfer roll to keep the elastic material engaged on the transfer roll.

After passing through the defined by the transfer roll and nip roll orthe roller and nip roll, the substrate with the attached curvilinearelastic material continues on the substrate path for further processing.

The elastic material may be leg elastic, but preferably the elasticmaterials define the previously described leg cuff/containment flapelastic materials.

Several advantages are obtained from the present apparatus, method.First, the overall apparatus is not complex. Second, this apparatus andmethod allows high speed placement of wide band elastic materials onto asubstrate, while third, allowing more severe angular displacement of theelastic material, with respect to the substrate path 25, in thecomposite web structure to achieve a better fit of the final articleabout the body of the wearer.

An apparatus and method has been described for applying elasticmaterials having a curvilinear path to a continuously moving substrate.The substrate and elastic material composite may be stored for later usein any known manner or alternatively, the composite may be usedimmediately in the fabrication of disposable garments such as disposablediapers. When used in a disposable diaper, the curved elastic in eachindividual diaper fabricated from the substrate and elastic materialcomposite provides elastic materials which are contoured to fit theshape of the body on which the diaper is worn and thereby provide abetter fit or seal of the diaper against the body. Moreover, the benefitof the method and apparatus of this invention may be obtained whilemanufacturing elasticized disposable diapers or other disposablegarments at very high production speeds and having severe elasticmaterial angular placement.

Those skilled in the art will now see that certain modifications can bemade to the apparatus and methods herein disclosed with respect to theillustrated embodiments, without departing from the spirit of theinstant invention. And while the invention has been described above withrespect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that theinvention is adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications, andalterations, and all such arrangements, modifications, and alterationsare intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

To the extent the following claims use means plus function language, itis not meant to include there, or in the instant specification, anythingnot structurally equivalent to what is shown in the embodimentsdisclosed in the specification.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A method forapplying at least one web of elastic material in a curvilinear path ontoa continuously moving substrate, said method comprising: (a) moving thesubstrate along the substrate path; (b) supplying the elastic materialto an oscillation unit having at least a first roll having a first rollaxis, said first roll being mounted for rolling engagement with asurface of a transfer roll, and said first roll pivoting about a pivotaxis parallel to the substrate path with the pivot axis plane furtherfrom the point of rolling engagement than the first roll axis such thatthe first roll is operative to pivot in a plane generally traverse tothe substrate path while rolling and thus being effective to apply theelastic material to said transfer roll along the curvilinear path; (c)oscillating the oscillation unit such that the first roll pivots in aplane generally traverse to the substrate path; (d) applying the elasticmaterial from the first roll to the transfer roll in a curvilinear pathconfiguration; (e) applying the elastic material, in the curvilinearpath configuration, from the transfer roll to the substrate; and (f)bonding the elastic material, in the curvilinear path configuration, tothe substrate.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the oscillatingof the oscillation unit comprises rotationally oscillating theoscillation unit in a plane generally traverse to the substrate path. 3.A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the bonding of the elasticmaterial to the substrate comprises applying adhesive to the elasticmaterial upstream of the first roll such that the adhesive contacts thesubstrate and thereby secures the elastic material to the substrate whenthe elastic material is applied onto the substrate by the transfer roll.4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the supplying of the elasticmaterial to the first roll of the oscillation unit comprises guiding theelastic material about to a guide prior to supplying the elasticmaterial to the first roll of the oscillation unit.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 1 wherein the supplying of the elastic material to thefirst roll of the oscillation unit comprises guiding the elasticmaterial about an oscillation unit guide prior to supplying the elasticmaterial to the first roll of the oscillation unit.
 6. A method asrecited in claim 1 wherein the supplying of the elastic material to thefirst roll of the oscillation unit comprises supplying a combined legcuff and containment flap material to the first roll of the oscillationunit.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising supplying the elasticmaterial from the first roll to a variable velocity vacuum transferroll.
 8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising nipping theelastic material and the substrate between the transfer roll and a niproll.
 9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the bonding of theelastic material to the substrate is through use of an ultrasonicbonding apparatus.
 10. A method for applying at least one web of elasticmaterial in a curvilinear path onto a continuously moving substrate,said method comprising: (a) moving the substrate along the substratepath; (b) supplying the elastic material to an oscillation unit havingat least a first roll having a first roll axis, said first roll beingmounted for rolling engagement with a surface of said substrate, andsaid first roll pivoting about a pivot axis parallel to the substratepath with the pivot axis plane further from the point of rollingengagement than the first roll axis such that the first roll isoperative to pivot in a plane generally traverse to the substrate pathwhile rolling and thus being effective to apply the elastic material tosaid substrate along the curvilinear path; (c) oscillating theoscillation unit in a path such that the first roll pivots in a planegenerally traverse to the substrate path; (d) applying the elasticmaterial from the first roll to the substrate in the curvilinear pathconfiguration; and (e) bonding the elastic material, in the curvilinearpath configuration, to the substrate.
 11. A method as recited in claim10 wherein the oscillating of the oscillation unit comprisesrotationally oscillating the oscillation unit in a plane generallytraverse to the substrate path.
 12. A method as recited in claim 10wherein the bonding of the elastic material to the substrate comprisesapplying adhesive to the elastic material upstream of the first rollsuch that the adhesive contacts the substrate and thereby secures theelastic material to the substrate when the elastic material is appliedonto the substrate by the first roll.
 13. A method as recited in claim10 wherein the supplying of the elastic material to the first roll ofthe oscillation unit comprises guiding the elastic material to a guideprior to supplying the elastic material to the first roll of theoscillation unit.
 14. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein thesupplying of the elastic material to the first roll of the oscillationunit comprises guiding the elastic material to an oscillation unit guideprior to supplying the elastic material to the first roll of theoscillation unit.
 15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein thesupplying of the elastic material to the first roll of the oscillationunit comprises supplying a combined leg cuff and containment flapmaterial to the first roll of the oscillation unit.
 16. A method asrecited in claim 10 further comprising nipping the elastic material andthe substrate between the first roll and a nip roll.
 17. A method asrecited in claim 10 wherein the bonding of the elastic material to thesubstrate is through use of an ultrasonic bonding apparatus. 18.Apparatus for applying at least one web of elastic material in acurvilinear path onto a continuously moving substrate, said apparatuscomprising: (a) transporting apparatus for continuously moving thesubstrate along a substrate path; (b) a rotatable transfer roll, havinga transfer roll axis, and being adapted to be in rolling engagement withthe substrate and to press the elastic material against the substratealong the curvilinear path; (c) an oscillation unit having at least afirst roll having a first roll axis generally transverse to thesubstrate path, said first roll being mounted for rolling engagementwith a surface of said transfer roll, and said first roll pivoting abouta pivot axis parallel to the substrate path with the pivot axis planefurther from the point of rolling engagement than the first roll axissuch that the first roll is operative to pivot in a plane generallytraverse to the substrate path while rolling and thus being effective toapply the elastic material to said transfer roll along the curvilinearpath; (d) an elastic material supply providing the elastic material tosaid first roll of said oscillation unit; (e) an oscillating driveconnected to said oscillation unit and oscillating said oscillation unitfirst roll such that the first roll pivots in a plane generally traverseto the substrate path; and (f) bonding apparatus securing the elasticmaterial to the substrate along the curvilinear path when the elasticmaterial is pressed onto the substrate by said transfer roll. 19.Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the first roll is generallyoval, the first roll axis being the major axis of said oval first roll.20. Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said bonding apparatuscomprises an adhesive applicator which applies adhesive to the elasticmaterial upstream of said first roll such that the adhesive contacts thesubstrate and thereby secures the elastic material to the substrate whenthe elastic material is pressed onto the substrate by said transferroll.
 21. Apparatus as recited in claim 18 further comprising a guidebetween the elastic material supply and the first roll guiding theelastic material to the first roll of the oscillation unit. 22.Apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said oscillation unit includessaid guide.
 23. Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said elasticmaterial supply is a combined leg cuff and a containment flap materialsupply.
 24. Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said transfer rollis a variable velocity vacuum transfer roll.
 25. Apparatus as recited inclaim 18 wherein said bonding apparatus further comprises a nip roll tohelp secure the elastic material to the substrate.
 26. Apparatus asrecited in claim 18 wherein said bonding apparatus further comprises anultrasonic apparatus securing the elastic material to the substrate. 27.Apparatus for applying at least one web of elastic material in acurvilinear path onto a continuously moving substrate, said apparatuscomprising: (a) transporting apparatus for continuously moving thesubstrate along a substrate path; (b) an oscillation unit having atleast a first roll having a first roll axis, said first roll beingmounted for rolling engagement with a surface of said substrate, andsaid first roll pivoting about a pivot axis parallel to the substratepath with the pivot axis plane further from the point of rollingengagement than the first roll axis such that the first roll isoperative to pivot in a plane generally traverse to the substrate pathwhile rolling and thus being effective to apply the elastic material tosaid substrate along the curvilinear path; (c) an elastic materialsupply for providing the elastic material to said first roll of saidoscillation unit; (d) an oscillating drive connected to said oscillationunit and oscillating said oscillation unit first roll such that thefirst roll pivots in a plane generally traverse to the substrate path;and (e) a bonding apparatus securing the elastic material to thesubstrate along the curvilinear path when the elastic material ispressed onto the substrate by said transfer roll.
 28. Apparatus asrecited in claim 27 wherein the first roll is generally oval, the firstroll axis being the major axis of said oval first roll.
 29. Apparatus asrecited in claim 27 wherein said bonding apparatus comprises an adhesiveapplicator which applies adhesive to the elastic material upstream ofsaid first roll such that the adhesive contacts the substrate andthereby secures the elastic material to the substrate when the elasticmaterial is pressed onto the substrate by said first roll.
 30. Apparatusas recited in claim 27 further comprising a guide between the elasticmaterial supply and the first roll guiding the elastic material to thefirst roll of the oscillation unit.
 31. Apparatus as recited in claim 30wherein said oscillation unit includes said guide.
 32. Apparatus asrecited in claim 27 wherein said elastic material supply is a combinedleg cuff and a containment flap material supply.
 33. Apparatus asrecited in claim 27 wherein said bonding apparatus further comprises anip roll to help secure the elastic material to the substrate. 34.Apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said bonding apparatus furthercomprises an ultrasonic apparatus securing the elastic material to thesubstrate.